BIOS 5593 - Biological Basis of Learning and Memory

Learning and remembering is mediated by the nervous system and is a fundamental biological phenomenon. The ability to change responses as a result of experience seems to be a prominent feature of all nervous systems and is key for organisms to interact with their environments. Indeed for humans to communicate, think and be who we are requires that we learn and remember our thoughts and representations. This course will explore an overview of learning and memory research with a focus on the biological bases and include studies at the behavioral level, brain and nerve cell levels as well as the molecular foundations of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie both complex and simple learning. This course is approved to cover the Capstone requirement for the Biology and Biomedical Sciences majors.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: BIOS 3500 or permission of instructor. BIOS 5590 or graduate course in Neuroscience is recommended.

Credits: 3 hrs.

Notes: Open to Upperclass and Graduate Students. All 5000-level courses have the following prerequisites: Junior/senior standing and at least 12 credits in biology, including the specific prerequisite for each course.
When Offered: Fall (alternate years).